Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-09-29
the POLICE RIDDEN GERMANS.
Everything In . reutonic City Is Kept
strictly Under Police Supervision.

strictly Under foice supervision.
At the time when the universal cry in
England is for more laws, more legisla-
ton, fresh restrictions in every direction,
it is well to turn ones eyes to a country
where a paternal government hedges
round its submissive subjects with every
possible safeguard, and decide whether,
on the whole, people are better of there
than they are with us. Germany under
the Bismarckian system offers a good
field for study; it matters little whether
we go to Prussia or to one Of the minor
kingdoms, for the chancellor's iron hand
is to he felt on every side. The first
point that will strike an Englishman on
taking up his residence in a German
town-let us say in Munich, which in all
respects is a fair type of the sleepy, beer
drinking, easy going Teutonic city--is
that the word ''polizei'' meets him at
every turn. Whatever he may wish to
know, if it is only the address of a
friend, ho must apply to the police;
whatever he may wish to do and cannot
he is told is "polizeilich ~verboten" flor.
hidden by the police.
The ordinary law abiding E~nglishman,
when at home. has no reason for coming
in contact with the police from one year
TO another, and probably lives in sublime
ignorance of the whereabouts of the
nearest police station. Not so in Ger
many. Within three days of his arrival
he is expected to call at the police offices
and fill up a form stating his name, age,
profession and religion, whether he is
married. single or divorced, the object of
his visit and how long he means to re-
main. Nor is it only foreigners who are
treated in this inquisitorial manner.
Every person who changes his place of
residence must give immediate notice
thereof 10 the authorities; every servant
girl who goes TO a new situation must no
tify the fact to the police, and allow her
service book-also a compulsory institu-
tion-to be supervised. Every dog must
be taken to the police station, medically
examined, its address entered, and be
provided with a metal label to he worn
on the collar. II is "polizeiiich verboten'
to have music in your house after 10
o'clock without the consent of all the
other tenants; to take a lighted candle in
your " loft; to put flower pots on your
own window sill; TO sell strong beer after
midday. Every chimney must be swept
by order Of the government once a month
the sweep usually arriving for the oper-
alton in the middle of the afternoonl and
periodic visits are paid by officials into
every room to see that the careless house
holder does not stand his own furniture
too close 10 the stove, thereby running
the risk Of a possible fire.
The whole drainage system, wretched
and unsanitary as il is. isunder the super
vision Of the police. Needless TO say that
the hours for opening and closing shops
and restaurants are all fixed by law, and.
by q peculiar stroke of one sided tyranny,
the tram cars are not allowed & run after
0 p. m. as they would otherwise inter-
ferc with the cab monopoly. The infrac-
ton Of any Of these rules is punished by
strictly enforced fines, nor must il I've
imagined that the officials facilitate con-
Torrance to the law. Everything is left
to the initiative of the citizen, and the
regulations as TO the days, hours and
place VI registration. ETC., are 80 nnmer-
Gus. and 80 constantly changed, that the
inexperienced foreigner may frequently
make several weary journeys before red
tapeism declares itself satisfied.
IL is not for a moment disputed that
the majority Of the regulations are dis
tinctly beneficial TO the general com,
munity. 1t is far better TO insist on
properly fixed flower boxes than that
the u~nsuspecting pedestrian SHOULD re-
ceive a flower not on his head. IL is
most r~cassuring to lodging house keepers
lie. they cannot unwittinsly receive a
notorious scoundrel without the police
Immediately warning them Of the fact,
1t Is quite true. moreover, that the dog
regulations have leen absolutely elTectual
IN stamping ont hydrophobia. Prince
Bismarck lisa iudicious despot, and in
The eyes Of those who look merely to inn
mediate resultsa most beneticent ruler
Pail Mall Gazette.